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^                        PRINCETON,  N.  J.                        ^' 

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I        V^  f    S^      1                          Division ;-.;'..,..^.».i  ,0 ,.,,  -  ^  - 

Section y^^^^lx  ft.. 

Shelf Number^  

MEMOIR 


Rev.  JAMES  WADDEL,  D.D. 


BY 


JAMES   WADDFX    Xj,EXANDER,    D.D. 


1880. 


This  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Waddel,  by  his  grand- 
son, was  publislicd  in  the  Watchman  of  the 
South,  a  religions  paper  of  Riehniond,  Fa.,  in  1844. 
//  is  nozu  put  in  a  permanent  form  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  an  eminently  holy,  learned,  and  eloquent 
father  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States. 


REV.   JAMES  V/ADDEL,   D.D. 

JAMES  WADDEL  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
Waddel,  and  was  born  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  in  the  month  of  July,  of  the  year 
I  739,  as  is  believed.  He  was  brought  in  his 
infancy  by  his  parents  to  America.  They  set- 
tled in  the  south-eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
near  the  State  line,  on  White  Clay  Creek. 
Thomas  Waddel  had  four  children,  William, 
Robert,  James,  and  Sally.  Of  these,  only  one 
remained  unmarried.  The  elder  sons  removed 
to  the  western  district  of  Pennsylvania,  near 
the  Ohio,  where  their  descendants  remain. 

Old  Mrs.  Waddel  was  a  woman  of  eminent 
Christian  knowledge  and  piety,  and  brought 
with  her  to  America  the  methods  of  ancient 
Scottish  Presbyterianism.  To  her  advices,  her 
son  ascribed  his  first  religious  convictions.  He 
was  a  frail  boy,  and  an  incident  of  his  child- 


hood  left  its  mark  on  him  for  Hfe.  When  he 
was  about  twelve  years  of  age,  he  went  in 
company  with  one  of  his  brothers  to  chase  a 
hare.  The  little  creature  took  refuge  in  a  hol- 
low tree,  or  log;  and  as  James  was  pointing 
out  the  spot,  his  brother  let  fell  a  hatchet  on 
the  place,  which  struck  the  left  hand  of  the 
younger  boy,  and  almost  severed  it  from  the 
wrist.  Throughout  his  life,  this  hand  was 
small,  and  in  a  great  degree  useless.  This  in- 
duced his  father  to  give  him  an  education. 
Accordingly,  he  was  sent  to  Nottingham, 
about  fifteen  miles  distant,  to  the  school  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Finley,  afterward  President  of  New 
Jersey  College.  It  was  an  academy  of  high 
reputation.  The  late  venerable  Mr.  Samuel 
Houston,  in  a  letter  to  my  mother,  of  date 
November  lo,  1835,  speaks  as  follows  : 

"  In  his  familiar  hours,  [Dr.  Waddelj  sometimes  gave 
me  anecdotes  of  his  early  life.  One  was  of  his  mother 
[and  of]  the  morning  he  left  home,  to  go  to  a  gram- 
mar school,  some  distance  from  their  abode.    When  she 


bad  made  ready  all  things  for  his  deijarture,  she  took 
him  into  a  private  room,  and  said  to  him,  weeping, 
'  James,  my  dear  son,  you  are  going  from  under  my  care, 
I  entreat  you,  be  careful  to  pray,  and  to  keep  God's  Sab- 
baths. Hence,  on  that  holy  day,  spend  not  your  time  in 
bad  company,  or  with  Sabbath-breakers.'  Then,  hand- 
ing him  two  little  religious  books,  she  said,  'Take  these 
books,  and  read  them  for  your  mother's  sake  ;'  and  fall- 
ing on  her  knees,  she  prayed  very  feelingly  for  him.  Dr. 
Waddel  has  told  me  that  this  parting  deeply  affected 
him,  and  had  a  very  salutary  effect.  The  books  he  often 
read ;  and  though  he  had  in  his  library  other  books  on 
the  same  subjects,  he  prized  these  volumes  more  than  all, 
for  his  mother's  sake." 

From  the  school  of  Dr.  Finlcy  proceeded  a 
number  of  eminent  men.  Among  these  were 
Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  who  often  used  to  speak 
of  Dr.  Waddel,  to  whom  he  had  recited  lessons  ; 
and  Judge  Jacob  Rush,  Ebenezer  Hazard,  of 
Philadelphia;  Dr.  McWhorter,  old  Dr.  Ten- 
nent,  and  Governor  Martin,  of  North  Caro- 
lina. Mr.  Hazard  used  to  exhibit  a  manual  of 
Prosody,  in  the  handwriting  of  Waddel ;  and 


it  was  observed  of  the  latter,  that,  late  in  life, 
he  evinced  the  nicety  of  his  ear,  in  regard  to 
quantity,  by  correcting,  with  some  impatience, 
the  barbarous  pronunciation  of  gentlemen 
who  read  Latin  to  him  during  his  blindness. 
There  was  no  Presbyterian  college,  as  yet ;  at 
this  school,  therefore,  he  studied  the  classics, 
mathematics,  logic,  and  all  the  branches  which 
were  considered  necessary  preparations  for  the 
learned  calling. 

I  am  indebted  to  my  father's  report  of  Dr. 
Waddel's  own  words,  for  the  statement,  that 
during  this  period  his  mind  was  subjected  to 
remarkable  religious  impressions.  Though  at- 
tached to  the  school,  he  underwent  these 
changes  at  his  father's  house.  The  exercises 
of  his  mind  were  deep  and  affecting,  but  not 
occasioned  by  any  external  means.  After 
great  distress,  he  v/as  led  to  believe  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  On  two  occasions,  in  par- 
ticular, he  was  favored  with  such  views  of  the 
plan  of  salvation  and  the  glory  of  Gospel  grace, 


as  he  never  afterward  enjoyed.  Dr.  Finley 
conversed  with  him,  instructed  him  more  fully, 
and  at  length  admitted  him  to  the  communion 
of  the  Church. 

Such  was  Mr.  Waddel's  proficiency,  that  Dr. 
Finley  took  him,  at  an  early  age,  to  be  his  as- 
sistant. He  gav^e  himself  chiefly  to  the  classics, 
in  which  he  was,  all  his  life,  singularly  versed. 
It  may  be  mentioned,  as  evincing  his  zeal  in 
these  pursuits,  that  at  a  public  examination,  he 
once  became  acquainted  with  the  superior  at- 
tainments of  a  British  scholar,  Campbell  by 
name,  which  so  roused  him  that  he  could  not 
rest  until  he  had  sought  out  this  gentleman, 
and  solicited  his  private  aid  in  regard  to  philo- 
logical methods. 

At  that  day  there  was  another  noted  Presby- 
terian school  at  Pequea,  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  under  the  care  of  the  elder 
Smith,  known  as  the  father  of  those  great 
scholars  and  eloquent  divines,  John  Blair 
Smith  and  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  men  whose 


TO 


names  are  connected  with  the  presidentship  of 
at  least  three  of  our  colleges.  From  this  school 
proceeded  as  many  as  fifty  young  men,  after- 
ward ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Asa  nursery  of 
Presbyterian  talent  and  devotion,  it  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten.  To  this  seminary  Mr. 
Waddel  went  from  Nottingham,  as  an  assist- 
ant teacher.  After  a  year  or  more  in  this  em- 
ployment, he  set  forth  on  his  travels,  in  pur- 
suance of  a  long-cherished  plan,  determined,  it 
is  thought,  to  devote  himself  to  teaching,  and 
in  expectation  of  being  settled  in  Charleston, 
S.  C.  As  he  pursued  his  way,  he  stopped  at 
Upper  Marlborough,  in  Maryland,  where  a 
Presbyterian  church  had  already  been  founded. 
He  seems  to  have  had  solicitations  to  remain 
there ;  but  not  finding  a  situation  to  his  mind, 
he  continued  his  journey  southward,  until  he 
reached  the  county  of  Hanover,  in  Virginia : 
a  county  signalized  by  three  names,  great  in 
the  annals  of  eloquence — need  I  mention  Sam- 
uel  Davies,   Patrick    Henry,  and    Henry 


1 1 

Clay  ?  From  Mr.  Houston's  letter  I  make 
the  following  extract,  which  stands,  however, 
amidst  some  statements  that  are  incorrect,  as 
to  date :  "  When  he  came  into  Virginia,  a 
young  man,  he  visited  Mr.  Samuel  Davies,  and 
heard  him  preach  in  Hanover,  near  where  Col. 
Henry  lived,  the  father  of  Patrick  Henry,  to 
whom  he  was  introduced  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
with  whom  he  went  home.  At  parting,  Mr. 
Davies  told  him  he  would  find  that  Virginians 
observed  not  the  Sabbath  as  the  Pennsylvanians, 
and  that  he  would  have  to  bear  with  many 
things  he  would  wish  otherwise.  Accordingly, 
as  he  went  home  with  Col.  H.  he  found  him 
much  more  conversant  with  Virgil  and  Horace 
than  the  Bible,"  The  meeting  with  Mr.  Davies 
gave  a  direction  to  young  Waddel's  life.  This 
holy  man  laid  his  hands  on  the  youth— much 
as  Farel,  in  a  celebrated  instance,  did  on  Calvin 
at  Geneva— and  not  only  forbade  him  to  go 
further,  but  charged  him  to  devote  himself  to 
the  ministry  of  the  Word.    Before  this,  he  had 


12 

been  studying  medicine  ;  but  now,  seeing  tlie 
need  of  preachers  and  teachers,  in  the  "  Old 
Colony  and  Dominion,"  he  consented  to  abide. 
We  next  find  him  in  the  county  of  Louisa, 
which  eventually  became  the  place  of  his  last 
labors  and  sufferings.  Here  he  placed  himself 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Todd,  a 
man  famous  in  our  Church  annals,  who  then 
taught  a  flourishing  school.  For  the  third 
time  Mr.  Waddel  became  an  instructor;  hav- 
ing, moreover,  the  use  of  Mr.  Todd's  excellent 
library,  and  his  learned  counsel  and  guidance 
in  the  study  of  theology.  In  this  retreat  he 
remained,  until  he  was  licensed  as  a  probation- 
er, at  Tinkling  Spring,  on  the  2d  of  April, 
1761,  by  the  (old)  Presbytery  of  Hanover. 
His  trial  sermons  were  from  the  texts,  Phil.  ii. 
9,  10,  Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly  ex- 
alted him,  etc. ;  and  John  v.  40,  And  ye  will 
not  come  to  me,  that  ye  might  have  life.  It  is 
worthy  of  record,  that  at  a  meeting  of  Presby- 
'tery  at  the  same  place,  on  the  1 7th  of  October, 


13 

the  same  year,  no  fewer  than  live  ealls  were 
put  into  his  hands ;  to  wit,  one  from  Upper 
Falling  and  the  Peaks  of  Otter ;  one  from 
Nutbush  and  Grassy  Creek  ;  one  from  Brown's 
Meeting-house  and  Jennings'- Gap ;  one  from 
the  Fork  of  James  River,  in  Augusta  ;  and  one 
from  •  Halifax :  "  none  of  whieh,"  says  the 
Presbyterial  record,  "  he  thought  lit  to  take 
under  consideration,"  Indeed,  his  mind  was, 
at  that  time,  made  up  to  return  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  he  was  not  without  expectation  of 
a  settlement  at  York.  He,  therefore,  left  Vir- 
ginia, and  returned  to  visit  his  parents.  And 
wdien  afterward  he  revisited  Virginia,  it  was 
with  the  view  of  seeking  a  dismission  from  the 
Presbytery.  Providence,  however,  had  other 
plans.  When  the  judicatory  met,  there  ap- 
peared before  it,  as  commissioners  from  the 
county  of  Lancaster  (Va.),  Col.  James  Gordon 
and  Capt.  Selden.  These  pious  and  deter- 
mined men  made  such  representations  of  the 
spiritual  wants  of  their  country,  that  Mr.  Wad- 


del  admitted  the  call  of  God,  and  entirely 
changed  his  intention.  On  the  7th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1762,  when  the  Presbytery  met  at  Provi- 
dence, he  signified  his  acceptance  of  a  call  to 
the  churches  of  Lancaster  and  Northumber- 
land, lying  between  the  great  rivers  Potomac 
and  Rappahannock,  and  near  their  mouths. 
He  was  ordained  at  Prince  Edward,  June  16, 
1762.  His  sermon  was  upon  the  words,  Rom. 
X.  4,  For  Christ  is  tlic  cud  of  the  laiu  for 
righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth.  At 
the  same  time  and  place  he  received  a  call 
from  Opaken  and  Cedar  Creek. 

There  is  in  my  possession,  in  manuscript, 
a  fragment  of  a  private  diary,  kept  by  Col. 
James  Gordon,  of  Lancaster,  from  Dec.  21, 
1758,  to  Dec.  31,  1763;  alas!  that  it  contains 
no  more  !  This  autograph  comprises,  of  course, 
the  period  of  Mr.  Waddel's  settlement  and 
early  labors  in  Lancaster.  That  the  gentlemen 
of  that  prosperous  region  were  not  unmindful 
of  their  Presbyterian  ancestry,  is  apparent  from 


15 

their  zeal  in  procuring  a  pastor,  as  well  as  from 
the  extent  and  vigor  of  the  churches  which 
they  formed.  Col.  Gordon  never  lets  a  day 
pass  without  an  entry  in  his  journal,  and  seldom 
fails  to  record  the  preacher's  text,  and  often 
the  psalms  and  hymns  used  in  worship.  At 
one  time,  I  find  as  many  as  twelve  persons 
elected  as  ruling  elders.  The  number  of  com- 
municants was  large,  and  the  power  of  the 
Gospel  was  manifest.  That  their  solemn  as- 
semblies were  not  without  special  interest,  may 
be  gathered  from  the  facts,  that  Mr.  Davies 
preached  very  often  to  them,  and  Mr.  White- 
field  a  number  of  times. 

Notwithstanding  the  v/armth  of  his  recep- 
tion, Mr.  Waddel  did  not  expect  to  remain 
long  in  Lancaster ;  but  several  circumstances 
changed  his  views.  He  found  so  much  hospi- 
tality, intelligence,  and  polish  among  these  old 
Virginian  gentry,  and  so  many  orthodox  and 
pious  Presbyterians  among  the  wealthy  plant- 
ers, and  merchants  (for  there  was  a  direct  and 


i6 

brisk  trade  with  Great  Britain  from  the  mouths 
of  the  rivers),  that  all  his  reluctance  was  over- 
come. Moreover,  it  was  not  long  before  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Gordon,  the 
daughter  of  Col.  James  Gordon  above  named. 
This  event  took  place  about  the  year  1 768.  (It 
may  not  be  inappropriate  to  add  that  a  por- 
trait of  this  ancient  servant  of  Christ  is  pos- 
sessed by  this  descendant,  John  Newton  Gor- 
don, of  Richmond).  Mr.  Waddel,  after  his 
marriage,  was  established  by  his  father-in-law 
in  a  new  and  commodious  house  on  Currato- 
man  River.  And  here  he  would  cheerfully  have 
spent  his  life,  amidst  extraordinary  usefulness 
and  in  the  bosom  of  a  loving  people,  but  for 
the  ill  effects  of  the  climate.  He  has  often 
said,  that  such  was  its  influence  on  his  state  of 
health,  that  he  passed  no  year  without  an  at- 
tack of  intermittent  fever;  and  that  many  a 
sermon  was  delivered  by  him  when  he  could 
scarcely  stand  erect.  His  labors  were  not 
'slight,  as  he  had  three  preaching  places  ;  name- 


^7 

ly,  Lancaster  Court- House  ;  the  Forest  Meet- 
ing-house, six  or  seven  miles  distant ;  and 
Northumberland  Meeting-house,  in  the  county 
of  that  name.  To  call  these  churches  anything 
but  "  meeting-houses,"  would  have  been  a 
solecism  in  the  dialect  of  the  then  dominant 
hierarchy ;  and  the  phraseology  of  the  Estab- 
lishment is  retained  even  by  many,  at  this  day, 
who  do  not  willingly  mean  any  concession  to 
"  THE  Church." 

That  Mr.  Waddel  was  a  "  new-side  man," 
may  be  inferred  from  a  saying  of  his,  remem- 
bered by  the  late  Mr.  Patillo  ;  who  related  that 
when  news  came,  during  a  meeting  of  Pres- 
bytery, of  the  reunion  of  Presbyterians,  after 
the  great  schism,  Mr.  Waddel  exclaimed,  with 
characteristic  animation,  "  Now  we  shall  fall 
into  the  hands  of  those  old  fellows,  over  the 
mountain  ! "  meaning  the  rigid  ministers  of  the 
"Old  Side."  It  is  proper  to  state,  that  any 
fears  which  he  may  have  had  were  readily  dis- 
appointed when  he  came  to  know  the  men. 


i8 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  materials  are  so 
scanty  for  a  history  of  Mr.  Waddel's  churches 
in  Lancaster  and  Northumberland.  A  few 
anecdotes  have  been  saved  from  oblivion,  and 
of  these,  one  or  two  shall  here  find  a  place. 
Among  the  most  active  members  of  the  Church 
v/as  Col.  Sherman.  The  circumstances  of  his 
conversion  were  remarkable.  While  yet  a 
thoughtless  youth,  he  was  led  by  curiosity  to 
go  to  one  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching-places  : 
it  was  Lane's  Meeting-house.  Such  was  the 
multitude  assembled,  that  entrance  by  the  door 
had  become  impracticable  when  young  Sher- 
man arrived.  He  therefore  joined  himself  to 
a  throng  of  persons  who  were  struggling 
violently  for  admission  at  a  window.  Just  as 
he  had  apparently  gained  his  point,  he  was 
shouldered  out  by  a  man  of  great  size ;  but 
not  before  he  had  been  long  enough  within 
hearing  to  catch  the  words  of  the  text — "  And 
they  that  were  ready,  went  in  with  him  to  the 
marriage,  and  the  door  was  shut!'' — Matt.  xxv. 


19 

lo.     By  this  strikingly  seasonable  passage  his 
conscience  was  awakened. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  a  ship,  owned  by  Col. 
Gordon,  came  in  after  a  long  voyage.  The 
crew  had  not  heard  a  sermon  for  some  months  ; 
and  being  told  that  there  would  be  divine 
service  at  Lancaster  Meeting-house,  they  went 
four  miles  to  reach  the  place.  They  were  late 
in  arriving,  and  found  the  house  overflowed. 
Being  compelled  to  stand  in  the  aisle,  they, 
nevertheless,  gave  unbroken  attention.  This 
was  particularly  true  of  one  seaman,  who  drank 
in  every  word.  The  text  was — "  Simon,  son 
of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?"  It  so  happened 
that  Simon  was  the  name  of  this  stranger.  As 
the  preacher  advanced  in  his  sermon,  he  took 
occasion  to  say,  "  My  brethren,  if  Jesus  should 
this  day  make  His  appearance  among  us,  what 
would  be  your  reply,  when  His  question  should 
be  put  to  each  of  you  individually,  "  Simon, 
son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  vie  ?  "  The  poor 
sailor  could  refrain  no  lonijer.     With  Howin": 


20 


tears,  he  cried  out,  so  as  to  be  heard  by  all 
present :  "  Lord,  ThoiL  know  est  all  things. 
Thou  knozvest  that  I  love  Thee  !  "  The  effect 
upon  the  assembly  was  such  that  weeping 
and  sobs  burst  from  every  part  of  the  house. 

Though  there  was  an  "  open  door,"  there 
were  "  many  adversaries."  While  Mr.  Waddel 
was  once  preaching  in  Lancaster  Meeting- 
house, a  ruffian,  who  had  been  offended  by 
some  act  or  word  of  his,  opened  the  door  op- 
posite to  the  pulpit,  advanced  to  a  point  near 
the  speaker,  and  presented  a  loaded  pistol  at 
him.  Col.  Gordon,  not  having  time  for  cooler 
methods,  or  for  any  deliberation,  wrested  the 
pistol  from  the  fellow,  and  with  his  walking- 
stick,  prostrated  him  at  once.  The  unfortu- 
nate assailant  turned  out  to  be  a  drunkard  of 
the  neighborhood  ;  and  Col.  Gordon  employed 
a  physician  for  the  cure  of  his  broken  head. 

The  churches  of  the  Northern  Neck  owed 
much  to  the  zeal  and  liberality  of  this  good 
elder ;    and   after  his  death  they  immediately 


21 


beo-an  to  decline.    This  deelension  must,  how- 
ever,  be  ascribed  in  part  to  other  causes,  and 
especially  to  the  removal  of  their  pastor.     Al- 
though they  continued  to  exist,  and  were  from 
time   to    time    supplied    by    members   of   the 
Presbytery,  they  dwindled  away,  and  the  com- 
municants fell  off  to  other  sects,  particularly 
that  of  the  Baptists.    As  late  as  the  years  1793 
and  1 794  (as  I  learn  from  the  personal  obser- 
vations of  my   father),  they  still   maintained 
their  integrity,  and  enjoyed  the  administration 
of  the  sacraments.     At  such  times  large  con- 
gregations attended.    But  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution had  made  sad  ravages  upon  their  terri- 
tory.   The  Presbyterians  of  these  two  counties 
belonged  to  the  first  class  of  Virginians,  for 
respectability   and   wealth.       But   the    British 
squadrons  found  ready  access  to  their  exposed 
estates  ;   and  the   soldiery   made  frequent  in- 
cursions, carrying  off  property,  so  as  for  a  time 
to  hold  possession  of  the  country.     This  was 
one  crreat  cause  of  the  decline  of  Presbyterian- 
ism  in  the  lower  counties. 


22 

When,  about  the  year  1775,  Mr.  Waddel, 
with  a  constitution  ahnost  ruined,  reluctantly 
determined  to  leave  Lower  Virginia,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  Tinkling  Spring,  in  Augusta, 
to  which,  it  will  be  remembered,  he  had  been 
called  fifteen  years  before.  His  second  call  to 
this  church  was  accepted  May  i,  1766.  The 
church  had  been  several  years  vacant.  Their 
last  pastor  had  been  Mr.  Craig.  Mr.  Waddel 
purchased  land  on  the  South  River,  a  branch 
of  the  Shenandoah,  and  sat  down  to  renew  his 
labors.  Disease  had  done  a  severe  work  on 
him.  His  frame  was  attenuated,  and  his  voice 
was  impaired  ;  yet,  even  under  these  disqualifi- 
cations, he  drew  crowds  of  hearers  whenever 
it  was  known  that  he  was  to  preach.  He 
often  assisted  Mr.  Brown,  of  Providence,  at  the 
Lord's  Supper ;  and  on  these  occasions  multi- 
tudes attended  from  all  the  adjacent  country. 
He  also  preached  about  once  every  fortnight, 
at  Staunton.  In  the  year  1783  a  call  was 
made  for  his  services  by  the  united  congrega- 


tions  of  Staunton  and  Tinkling  Spring.  This 
call  now  lies  before  mc.  It  bears  the  signa- 
ture of  Alexander  St.  Clair  and  Wm.  Bower, 
on  the  part  of  the  Staunton  people  ;  and  the 
salaiy  offered  by  the  two  congregations  was 
forty-five  pounds,  Virginia  money.  The  place 
of  Mr.  Waddel's  residence  was  called  Spring 
Hill,  and  it  is  now  occupied,  as  I  am  told,  by 
Dr.  McChesney.  During  his  residence  in  Au- 
gusta, which  may  have  been  about  seven  years, 
his  health  was  entirely  restored. 

The  last  earthly  removal  of  Mr.  Waddel  was  to 
an  estate  which  he  had  purchased  on  the  other 
side  of  the  mountain.  This  he  named  Hope- 
well. The  house  was  in  Louisa,  but  the  prop- 
erty, amounting,  perhaps,  to  a  thousand  acres, 
lay  also  in  the  counties  of  Orange  and  Albe- 
marle. It  may  be  seen  from  the  public  road, 
by  those  who  go  from  Gordonsville  to  the 
University  of  Virginia.  It  was  during  his  resi- 
dence here  that  Mr.  Waddel  received  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Dickinson's 


24 

College.  At  this  college  his  elder  sons  re- 
ceived their  education.  This  title,  even  in 
days  when  it  was  rare,  was  one  in  which  it  is 
believed  he  could  take  no  complacency.  At 
Hopewell  he  became,  for  the  fourth  time,  a 
classical  teacher,  and  took  pupils  into  his  own 
house.  I  have  heard  the  late  Governor  Bar- 
bour say,  that  he  enjoyed  these  instructions  for 
several  years.  Another  pupil  was  Merri wether 
Lewis,  the  celebrated  companion  of  Clarke,  in 
the  expedition  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
During  this  period,  Dr.  Waddel  preached  at 
several  places ;  namely,  at  the  "  D.  S."  church, 
about  three  miles  from  Charlottesville,  a  post 
now  abandoned  ;  at  Clarksville,  in  a  log-house  ; 
at  the  Brick  Church,  near  Orange  Court-house  ; 
and  at  a  small  edifice,  erected  by  himself,  near 
the  place  where  Gordonsville  now  stands. 
From  these  labors,  as  might  be  conjectured,  he 
derived  but  little  emolument ;  he  was  support- 
ed by  his  teaching  and  his  agriculture.  His 
library  was  good,  and  his  interest  in  learning 


25 

was  unabated.  All  who  knew  him  attest  the 
extent  and  accuracy  of  his  acquirements.  At 
a  period  when  clerical  studies  were  hardly 
earned,  and  remote  as  he  was  from  the  great 
literary  marts,  he  nevertheless  kept  himself  ad- 
vised of  what  the  learned  world  was  doing.  It 
is  known  that  the  speculations  of  Dr.  Price 
and  Dr.  Priestley,  in  particular,  awakened  his 
profound  attention.  The  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Louisa  may  be  set  down  at  twenty 
years.  There  he  ended  his  days ;  and  there, 
according  to  his  request,  he  was  buried  in  his 
own  garden. 

For  a  part  of  this  time,  Dr.  Waddel  was 
afflicted  w^ith  bhndness.  A  cataract  seized 
first  one  eye,  and  then  the  other,  leaving  him 
in  total  darkness.  To  this  affliction  he  alludes 
in  a  letter  dictated  by  him  to  Dr.  James 
Priestley,  of  date  Sept.  17,  1800:  "  Since  I  saw 
you  at  my  house,  I  have  experienced  changes ; 
the  most  painful  of  which  have  been  the  death 
of  children  and  the  loss  of  sight.     The  last. 


26 

through  divine  goodness,  has  been  partially  re- 
stored ;  but  not  so  as  to  enable  me  to  read,  nor 
even  to  recognize  my  old  acquaintances,  though 
partly  sufficient  for  my  walking  and  riding 
about.  And  several  grandchildren,  in  the 
other  case,  make  some  redress  for  the  wastes 
of  death.  Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord 
for  His  goodness,  and  for  His  wonderful  works 
to  the  children  of  men  !  "  The  partial  recovery 
alluded  to  in  this  letter  was  due  to  the  opera- 
tion of  couching,  performed  by  Dr.  Tyler,  of 
Fredericktown,  in  Maryland.  At  first,  as  is  not 
uncommon  in  such  cases,  great  inflammation 
set  in,  and  there  was  little  hope  of  advantage. 
But  after  some  months  he  slowly  recovered 
the  sight  of  one  eye.  I  wish  it  was  in  my 
power  to  insert  here  an  affecting  account  of 
the  scene  when  he  was  restored  to  day,  as  writ- 
ten by  his  youngest  son,  Lyttelton  Waddel, 
Esq.,  of  Staunton.  During  the  greatest  prev- 
alence of  this  calamity,  he  nevertheless  con- 
tinued to  preach  the  Gospel. 


27 

In  person  Dr.  Waddel  was  tall  and  erect ; 
when  a  young  man,  he  is  said  to  have  been  of 
striking  appearance.  His  complexion  was 
fliir,  and  he  had  a  light  blue  eye.  His  mien 
was  that  of  unusual  dignity.  Mr.  Wirt  once 
said  to  me :  "  Dr.  Waddel's  manners  were 
elegant  and  graceful ;  I  should  say  com- My,  if 
that  word  did  not  seem  to  import  an  efflores- 
cence of  manner,  which  did  not  belong  to  him." 
That  Mr.  Wirt  represents  him  as  preaching  in 
a  white  linen  cap,  is  excusable,  on  the  ground 
that  this  was  really  a  part  of  his  domestic  cos- 
tume ;  but  when  he  went  abroad,  he  always 
wore  a  large,  full-bottomed  wig,  perfectly 
white. 

In  the  decline  of  life,  and  on  his  death-bed, 
Dr.  Waddel  manifested  the  calmness  and  resig- 
nation which  might  have  been  expected.  To 
his  son-in-law,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Calhoon,  who  had 
removed  to  Augusta,  but  who  was  then  in  at- 
tendance, he  expressed  his  persuasion  that  the 
time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand  ;  adding,  with 


28 

emphasis,  that  he  had  no  more  fears  of  dying 
than  of  lying  down  to  sleep.  To  his  son  Ad- 
dison (now  Dr.  W.,  of  Staunton),  who  ven- 
tured to  express  an  affectionate  hope  that  his 
father's  end  was  not  so  near  as  he  said,  he  re- 
plied, with  an  expressive  smile,  "  My  son  !  you 
do  not  think  your  father  is  afraid  to  die  ? "  A 
lady,  who  visited  him  during  his  last  illness, 
once  said:  "If,  sir,  I  had  lived  such  a  life  as 
yours,  I  should  not  fear  death."  "  Madam,"  he 
replied,  "  if  this  were  my  dependence,  I  might 
fear  indeed  ;  my  only  hope  is  in  Jesus  Christ." 
He  had  taken  great  pains  to  prepare  his  family 
for  the  impending  event.  That  they  might  be 
less  annoyed  by  his  dying  struggles,  he  even 
caused  his  chamber  to  be  exchanged  for  one 
which  was  more  remote.  And  he  expressed  a 
decided  wish  to  be  left  alone  when  he  should 
come  to  the  final  moment.  When  the  time 
came,  being  restless  and  in  pain,  and  observing 
the  assiduous  attentions  of  those  about  him,  he 
"said,  "  Let  me  die  !     Take  the  pillow  from  be- 


29 

neath  my  head ; "  then,  with  great  serenity, 
"  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit ! "  Very  soon 
after  he  expired.  Some  time  before  his  death 
he  gave  orders  that  all  his  manuscripts  should 
be  committed  to  the  flames ;  that  there  should 
be  no  needless  ceremonies  at  his  interment ; 
and  that  his  body  should  be  carried  to  the 
grave  by  his  own  faithful  servant-men.  The 
records  of  Hanover  Presbytery  enable  me  to 
say,  that  his  decease  was  reported  to  that  body 
at  a  meeting  at  Pisgah,  as  having  occurred  on 
the  17th  of  September,  1805. 

The  manner  of  his  death  was  such  as  might 
have  been  expected  from  a  life  of  eminent 
piety  and  singular  self-control.  He  had  lived 
in  expectation  of  it.  One  of  his  sons  relates 
the  tender  impressions  produced  on  the  circle 
of  children,  collected  on  a  Sunday  evening,  as 
their  manner  was,  for  religious  instruction, 
when  he  spoke  of  his  own  death  as  an  event 
not  far  off.  The  same  son  remembers  to  have 
seen   his   father   on    his   bed   bathed  in   tears. 


30 

When  inquired  of  by  his  sympathizing  family 
as  to  the  cause  of  this  emotion,  he  said  that  it 
was  no  new  thing — that  he  was  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  his  Redeemer's  grace,  and  of 
his  own  un worthiness. 

In  traveling  through  my  native  State,  it  has 
given  me  great  pleasure  to  observe  the  venera- 
tion felt  for  the  memory  of  Dr.  Waddel.  The 
truth  is,  he  w^as  a  man  of  no  neutral  character ; 
but  of  penetrating  intellect,  adventurous  bold- 
ness of  thought,  and  mature  learning,  and  at 
the  same  time  of  tender  susceptibilities  and 
kindly  warmth.  He  was  stirring  and  ener- 
getic in  an  unusual  degree.  And  it  is  the  con- 
current testimony  of  all  his  contemporaries  and 
friends,  that  for  personal  intrepidity  he  had  no 
superior.  By  his  grave,  as  truly  as  by  that  of 
Knox,  it  might  have  been  said :  "  There  lies 
one  who  never  feared  the  face  of  man."  This 
was  shown  in  a  number  of  instances  in  private 
life,  in  which  he  rebuked  profaneness  and  irre- 


3T 

ligion  with  insupportable  sarcasm  ;  as  well  as 
in  the  pulpit,  from  which  he  was  the  scourge 
of  prevailing  infidelity  and  formalism. 

Of  his  eloquence  it  is  difficult  to  speak  so  as 
to  gratify  public  expectation.  It  has  become 
matter  of  tradition  in  Virginia.  It  was  of  the 
sort  which  electrifies  whole  assemblies,  trans- 
fusing to  them  the  speaker's  passion,  at  his 
will — a  species,  I  must  be  allowed  to  say,  which 
I  seldom  have  heard  except  in  the  South. 
Under  his  preaching,  as  many  have  declared 
to  me,  audiences  were  moved  simultaneously 
and  irresistibly,  as  the  trees  of  the  wood  are 
shaken  by  the  winds.  Especially  was  his 
power  great  in  so  painting  his  sacred  scenes, 
as  to  bring  the  hearer  into  the  very  presence 
of  the  object.  These  faculties  displayed  them- 
selves as  really  in  private  as  in  public  ;  so  that 
his  ordinary  discourse  was  an  uncommon  treat 
to  intellectual  persons.  It  was  this  which 
caused  his  company  to  be  sought  by  the  first 
men  of  his  time.     When  he  rose  in  scornful 


32 

argument,  it  was  like  a  sweeping  torrent  which 
carries  everything  before  it.  For  these  state- 
ments I  have  the  authority  of  my  father,  of  the 
venerable  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Governor  Barbour, 
and  of  Mr.  Wirt.  But  after  what  has  been 
written  by  the  last  of  these,  it  is  difficult  to 
treat  the  subject  with  propriety.  I  shall,  there- 
fore, insert  in  this  connection,  some  passages 
from  the  "  British  Spy,"  premising  that  the 
original  date  of  the  publication  was  the  year 
1803,  when  Dr.  Waddel  was  approaching  the 
end  of  life.  Under  the  incoQnito  of  a  British 
officer,  Mr.  Wirt  thus  addresses  his  corre- 
spondent : 

THE    BLIND    PREACHER. 

"  It  was  one  Sunday,  as  I  traveled  through  the  county 
of  Orange,  that  my  eye  was  caught  by  a  cluster  of  horses 
tied  near  a  ruinous,  old,  wooden  house  in  the  forest,  not 
far  from  the  road-side.  Having  frequently  seen  such 
objects  before,  in  traveling  through  these  States,  I  had 
no  difficulty  in  understanding  that  this  was  a  place  of 
religious  worship. 

"  Devotion  alone  should  have  stopped  me  to  join  in 


33 

the  duties  of  the  congregation ;  but  I  must  confess,  that 
curiosity  to  hear  the  preacher  of  such  a  wilderness  was 
not  the  least  of  my  motives.  On  entering,  I  was  struck 
with  his  preternatural  appearance.  He  was  a  tall  and 
very  spare  old  man ;  his  head,  which  was  covered  with 
a  white  linen  cap,  his  shriveled  hands,  and  his  voice, 
were  all  shaking  under  the  influence  of  a  palsy;  and  a 
few  moments  ascertained  to  me  that  he  was  perfectly 
blind. 

"  The  first  emotions  that  touched  my  breast  were 
those  of  mingled  pity  and  veneration.  But  how  soon 
were  all  my  feelings  changed !  The  lips  of  Plato  were 
never  more  worthy  of  a  prognostic  swarm  of  bees,  than 
were  the  lips  of  this  holy  man  !  It  was  a  day  of  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  sacraments;  and  his  subject  was,  of 
course,  the  passion  of  our  Saviour.  I  had  heard  the 
subject  handled  a  thousand  times— I  had  thought  it  ex- 
hausted long  ago.  Little  did  I  suppose  that  in  the  wild 
woods  of  America  I  was  to  meet  with  a  man  whose  elo- 
quence would  give  to  this  topic  a  new  and  more  sublime 
pathos  than  I  had  ever  before  witnessed. 

"  As  he  descended  from  the  pulpit  to  distribute  the 
mystic  symbols,  there  was  a  peculiar,  a  more  than 
human  solemnity  in  his  air  and  manner,  which  made  my 
blood  run  cold,  and  my  whole  frame  shiver. 

"He   then   drew  a  picture   of  the   sufferings  of  our 


34 

Saviour;  His  trial  before  Pilate;  His  ascent  up  Calvary  ; 
His  crucifixion;  and  His  death.  I  knew  the  whole  his- 
tory ;  but  never  until  then  had  I  heard  the  circum- 
stances so  selected,  so  arranged,  so  colored  !  It  was  all 
new;  and  I  seemed  to  have  heard  it  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life.  His  enunciation  was  so  deliberate,  that  his 
voice  trembled  on  every  syllable  ;  and  every  heart  in  the 
assembly  trembled  in  unison.  His  peculiar  phrases  had 
that  force  of  description,  that  the  original  scene  ap- 
peared to  be  at  that  moment  acting  before  our  eyes. 
We  saw  the  very  faces  of  the  Jews;  the  staring,  frightful 
distortions  of  malice  and  rage.  We  saw  the  buffet ;  my 
soul  kindled  with  a  flame  of  indignation  ;  and  my  hands 
were  involuntarily  and  convulsively  clenched. 

"  But  when  he  came  to  touch  on  the  patience,  the  for- 
giving meekness  of  our  Saviour;  when  he  drew,  to  the 
life,  His  blessed  eyes  streaming  in  tears  to  heaven,  His 
voice  breathing  to  God  a  soft  and  gentle  prayer  of 
pardon  on  His  enemies,  '  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do,'  the  voice  of  the  preacher, 
which  had  all  along  faltered,  grew  fainter  and  fainter, 
until,  his  utterance  being  entirely  obstructed  by  the 
force  of  his  feelings,  he  raised  his  handkerchief  to  his 
eyes,  and  burst  into  a  loud  and  irrepressible  flood  of 
grief.  The  effect  Avas  inconceivable.  The  whole  house 
resounded  with  the  mingled  groans  and  sobs  and 
shrieks  of  the  congregation. 


35 

"  It  was  some  time  before  the  tumult  subsided,  so  far 
as  to  permit  him  to  ])roceed.  Indeed,  judging  by  the 
usual,  but  fallacious  standard  of  my  own  weakness,  I 
began  to  be  very  uneasy  for  the  situation  of  the  preach- 
er ;  for  I  could  not  conceive  how  he  would  be  able  to 
let  his  audience  down  from  the  height  to  which  he  had 
wound  them,  without  impairing  the  solemnity  and  dig- 
nity of  his  subject,  or  perhaps  shocking  them  by  the  ab- 
ruptness of  the  fall.  But  no  ;  the  descent  was  as  beau- 
tiful and  sublime  as  the  elevation  had  been  rapid  and 
enthusiastic. 

"The  first  sentence  with  which  he  broke  the  awful 
silence,  was  a  quotation  from  Rousseau  :  '  Socrates  died 
like  a  philosopher;  but  Jesus  Christ,  like  a  God  !  ' 

"  I  despair  of  giving  you  any  idea  of  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  this  short  sentence,  unless  you  could  perfectly 
conceive  the  whole  manner  of  the  man,  as  well  as  the 
peculiar  crisis  in  the  discourse.  Never  before  did  I 
completely  understand  what  Demosthenes  meant  by 
laying  such  stress  on  delivery.  You  are  to  bring  before 
you  the  venerable  figure  of  the  preacher;  his  blindness 
constantly  recalling  to  your  recollection  old  Homer, 
Ossian,  and  Milton,  and  associating  with  his  perform- 
ance the  melancholy  grandeur  of  their  geniuses;  you 
are  to  imagine  that  you  hear  his  slow,  solemn,  well-ac- 
cented enunciation,  and  his  voice  of  affectintr.  tremblinsr 


36 

melody  ;  you  are  to  remember  the  pitch  of  passion  and 
enthusiasm  to  which  the  congregation  were  raised  ;  and 
then  the  few  moments  of  portentous,  death-like  silence 
which  reigned  throughout  the  house;  the  preacher,  re- 
moving his  white  handkerchief  from  his  aged  face  (even 
yet  wet  from  the  recent  torrent  of  his  tears),  and  slowly 
stretching  forth  the  palsied  hand  which  holds  it,  begins 
the  sentence  :  'Socrates  died  like  a  philosopher' — then 
pausing,  raising  his  other  hand,  pressing  them  both, 
clasped  together,  with  warmth  and  energy,  to  his  breast, 
lifting  his  '  sightless  balls '  to  heaven,  and  pouring  his 
whole  soul  into  his  tremulous  voice — '  but  Jesus  Christ 
— like  a  God ! '  If  he  had  been  in  deed  and  in  truth  an 
angel  of  light,  the  effect  could  scarcely  have  been  more 
divine. 

"  Whatever  I  had  been  able  to  conceive  of  the  sub- 
limity of  Massillon  or  the  force  of  Bourdaloue,  had  fallen 
far  short  of  the  power  which  I  felt  from  the  delivery  of 
this  simple  sentence.  The  blood,  which  just  before  had 
rushed  in  a  hurricane  upon  my  brain,  and,  in  the 
violence  and  agony  of  my  feelings,  had  held  my  whole 
system  in  suspense,  now  ran  back  into  my  heart  with  a 
sensation  which  I  can  not  describe — a  kind  of  shudder- 
ing, delicious  horror !  The  paroxysm  of  blended  pity 
and  indignation,  to  which  I  had  been  transported,  sub- 
sided   into    the   deepest   self-abasement,   humility,   and 


Z1 

adoration.  I  had  just  been  lacerated  and  dissolved  by 
sympathy  for  our  Saviour  as  a  fellow-creature;  l)ut  now, 
with  fear  and  trembling,  I  adored   Him  as  a  (lod. 

"  If  this  description  gives  you  the  impression  that  this 
incomparable  minister  had  anything  of  shallow,  theatri- 
cal trick  in  his  manner,  it  does  him  great  injustice.  I 
have  never  seen,  in  any  other  orator,  such  a  union  of 
simplicity  and  majesty.  He  has  not  a  gesture,  an  atti- 
tude, or  an  accent,  to  which  he  does  not  seem  forced  by 
the  sentiment  he  is  expressing.  His  mind  is  too  serious, 
too  earnest,  too  solicitous,  and  at  the  same  time  too 
dignified,  to  stoop  to  artifice.  Although  as  far  re- 
moved from  ostentation  as  a  man  can  be,  yet  it  is  clear, 
from  the  train,  the  style,  and  substance  of  his  thoughts, 
that  he  is  not  only  a  very  polite  scholar,  but  a  man  of 
extensive  and  profound  erudition.  I  was  forcibly  struck 
with  a  short,  yet  beautiful,  character  which  he  drew  of 
your  learned  and  amiable  countryman.  Sir  Robert  Boyle; 
he  spoke  of  him  as  if  'his  noble  mind  had,  even  before 
death,  divested  herself  of  all  influence  from  his  frail 
tabernacle  of  flesh;'  and  called  him,  in  his  ])eculiarly 
emphatic  and  impressive  manner,  '  a  pure  intelligence, 
the  link  between  men  and  angels.' 

"  This  man  has  been  before  my  imagination  almost 
ever  since.  A  thousand  times,  as  I  rode  along,  I  dropped 
the  reins  of  my  bridle,  stretched   forth  my  hand,  and 


3^ 

tried  to  imitate  his  quotation  from  Rousseau;  a  thou- 
sand times  I  abandoned  the  attempt  in  despair,  and  felt 
persuaded  that  his  peculiar  manner  and  power  arose 
from  an  energy  of  soul,  which  nature  could  give,  but 
which  no  human  being  could  justly  copy.  In  short,  he 
seems  to  be, altogether  a  being  of  a  former  age,  or  of  a 
totally  different  nature  from  the  rest  of  men.  As  I  re- 
call, at  this  moment,  several  of  his  awfully  striking  atti- 
tudes, the  chilling  tide  with  which  my  blood  begins  to 
pour  along  my  arteries,  reminds  me  of  the  emotions  pro- 
duced by  the  first  sight  of  Gray's  introductory  picture 
of  his  bard  : 

"  '  On  a  rock,  whose  haughty  brow 

Frowns  o'er  old  Conway's  foaming  flood, 
Robed  in  the  sable  garb  of  wo. 

With  haggard  eyes  the  poet  stood, 
(Loose  his  beard  and  hoary  hair 

Streamed,  like  a  meteor,  to  the  troubled  air  ;) 
And  with  a  poet's  hand  and  prophet's  fire. 

Struck  the  deep  sorrows  of  his  lyre.' 

"  Guess  my  surprise,  when  on  my  arrival  at  Richmond, 
and  mentioning  the  name  of  this  inan,  I  found  not  one 
person  who  had  ever  before  heard  oi  James  Waddcl !  .'" 

-     It  has  often  been  questioned  how  far  the  ac- 


39 

complished  author  gave  himself  the  license  of 
fiction  in  this  sketch.  That  Dr.  Waddel  was 
not  so  much  unknown  as  is  here  said,  is  uni- 
versally acknowledged  in  Virginia.  That  his 
pulpit  costume  was  different  from  what  is  here 
described,  has  been  already  stated.  That  the 
author  of  the  "  British  Spy,"  so  far  from  being 
a  transient  stranger,  was  well  acquainted  with 
Dr.  Waddel  aid  his  family,  I  know  from  them 
and  from  himself.  In  the  year  1830  it  was  my 
privilege  to  spend  a  few  delightful  days  in  the 
company  of  Mr.  Wirt,  who  then  resided  in 
Baltimore.  It  was  natural  for  me  to  seek  from 
his  own  lips  some  resolution  of  these  doubts, 
and  the  result  of  my  inquiries  was  as  follows  : 
Mr.  Wirt  stated  to  me,  that  so  far  from  adding 
colors  to  the  picture  of  Dr.  Waddel's  eloquence, 
he  had  fallen  below  the  truth.  He  did  not 
hesitate  to  say,  that  he  had  reason  to  believe 
that,  in  a  different  species  of  oratory,  he  was 
equal  to  Patrick  Henry.  He  added,  that  in 
regard  to  the  place,  time,  costume,  and  lesser 


40 

particulars,  he  had  used  an  allowable  liberty, 
grouping  together  events  which  had  occurred 
apart,  and  perhaps  imagining,  as  in  a  sermon, 
observations  which  had  been  uttered  by  the 
fireside. 

A  gentleman  intimately  connected  with 
Patrick  Henry,  informed  me  that  this  great 
man  was  accustomed  to  speak  in  terms  of  un- 
bounded admiration  of  Dr.  Waddel's  powers — 
pronouncing  Davies  and  Waddel  to  be  the 
greatest  orators  he  had  ever  heard.  And  it 
may  be  observed,  that  both  Henry  and  Wad- 
del  were,  in  early  life,  placed  where  they  could 
catch  the  inspiration  of  Samuel  Davies.  I  am 
indebted  to  a  gentleman  of  Virginia,  as  well 
qualified  to  authenticate  such  a  fact  as  any 
man  living,  that  when  Henry  was  a  lad  he 
used  to  drive  his  mother  in  a  gig  to  the  places 
in  Hanover  where  Mr.  Davies  preached,  and 
that  in  after-life  the  great  orator  of  the  Revo- 
lution spoke  of  the  eloquence  which  he  then 
'heard  and  felt,  as  closely  connected  wnth  his 


41 

own  wonderful  success.  In  no  one  of  the  three, 
however,  was  it  the  oratory  which  is  taught  by 
masters  of  elocution,  or  practiced  before  the 
mirrors  of  colleges ;  we  may  question,  indeed, 
whether  such  methods  ever  resulted  in  elo- 
quence. The  bursts  of  Summerfield,  Turner, 
and  Larned  will,  to  such  as  remember  them, 
explain  all  that  is  meant.  Good  Father  Mitch- 
ell once  said  to  the  writer,  on  the  way  from  a 
memorable  sacramental  occasion  at  Old  Con- 
cord, July  i6th,  1826:  "When  other  men 
preach,  one  looks  to  see  who  is  affected  ;  when 
Dr.  Waddel  preached,  those  who  were  not  af- 
fected were  the  exception.  Whole  congrega- 
tions were  bathed  in  tears."  Governor  Bar- 
bour declared  to  me,  in  terms  of  enthusiasm, 
his  judgment,  that  his  old  perceptor,  Dr.  W^ad- 
del,  surpassed  all  orators  whom  he  ever  knew. 
Indeed,  if  we  may  credit  the  uncontradicted 
testimony  of  all  who  were  cognizant  of  the 
facts,  we  must  admit  that  the  discourses  of  this 
eminent  preacher  were  pronounced  with  a  con- 


42 

trol  over  the  emotions  of  hearers,  such  as  is 
extremely  rare  in  the  annals  of  eloquence. 

It  was  in  pressing  the  essential,  gracious, 
renovating  truths  of  the  Gospel  that  Dr.  Wad- 
del  employed  his  singular  faculty.  Neverthe 
less,  he  sometimes  came  forward  on  patriotic 
services.  As  an  instance,  it  may  be  recorded, 
that  when  Tate's  company  marched  from  the 
valley  on  their  southward  expedition,  they  were 
addressed  at  Midway,  Rockbridge  County, 
by  Dr.  Waddel  The  fact  is  stated  on  the 
authority  of  David  Steele,  a  member  of  the 
company,  who  was  severely  and  repeatedly 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Guilford. 

When  the  "  British  Spy  "  appeared,  the  ar- 
ticle touching  himself  was  sent  to  Dr.  Wad- 
del.  The  old  gentleman  was  unfeignedly 
grieved,  and  in  a  reply  to  one  of  the  com- 
plimentary letters  which  he  received,  he  dic- 
tated the  words.  Hand  mei-ita  lans,  cppi^obri- 
mn  est. 
■     The  independence  and  zeal  of  Dr.  Waddel 


43 

brought  him  sometimes  into  conflict  with  the 
Establishment,  in  a  day  when  it  was  hazardous 
for  a  dissenter  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  regret 
the  loss  of  a  letter  which  was  called  forth  by 
his  having,  on  a  certain  occasion,  been  subject- 
ed to  fine,  for  occupying  a  parish  church.  Un- 
less I  am  in  error,  this  letter  can  be  furnished 
by  a  friend  who  coincides  with  me  in  a  high 
relish  for  antiquarian  scraps  ;  I  mean  Charles 
C.  Campbell,  Esq. 

It  will  be  observed  by  the  reader,  that  the 
materials  for  this  sketch  have  been  much  com- 
pressed, and  that  many  anecdotes,  floating  on 
the  current  of  tradition,  in  Virginia,  have  been 
omitted.  For  this  omission,  I  find  my  apol- 
ogy in  the  desire  to  avoid  prolixity,  but  still 
more  in  the  great  variety  apparent  in  the  dif- 
ferent versions,  and  the  want  of  responsible 
vouchers. 

Leaving  the  subject,  I  beg  that  this  me- 
moir may  be  regarded  as  a  filial  tribute  to  the 


44 

Presbyterian  Church  of  my  native  State,  and 
(may  I  add)  to  the  venerable  Presbytery  by 
the  laying  on  of  whose  hands  I  was  ordained.* 


*  Throughout  these  papers,  I  have  written  Dr.  Waddel's  name 
as  I  find  it  in  his  numerous  autographs  in  my  possession,  name- 
ly, with  a  single  l.  That  he  did,  at  a  certain  period,  double  the 
last  letter,  is  certain;  but  it  is  no  less  certain  that  in  several  books 
once  owned  by  him,  the  superfluous  letter  has  been  scrupulously 
erased. 


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